RAFA BENITEZ tried to sign Santi Cazorla when he was Liverpool boss — and reckons the midfielder made the right choice when he joined Arsenal last summer.
The Gunners' £16million star will attempt to increase the pressure Rafa and his Chelsea side are feeling at home in this afternoon's big London derby.
Chelsea have drawn three and lost one of their five Premier League games at Stamford Bridge since the former Anfield manager took over in November.
Benitez — who was Kop boss for six years until he was sacked in June 2010 — was urged to grab Cazorla by the Reds' Spanish international keeper Pepe Reina.
But the Merseysiders decided they could not afford to sign the midfielder, who was then at Villarreal.
Spaniard Rafa said: "We knew about Cazorla and he had a good relationship with one of my players.
"It wasn't possible to sign him because it was a big risk with the amount of money we had to spend.
"At the time he was a winger, he was not playing between the lines or as a second striker.
"We knew he could be a great player but he cost too much at that time and we could not afford him.
"He was a player you could monitor at Villarreal but their chairman wanted to keep that team.
"After that they had problems and it was even more complicated.
"The Villarreal chairman is quite sensible and did not want to lose one of his best players.
"We knew Cazorla was good but to come to the Premier League and settle down is not just down to the quality of the player.
"Sometimes it also depends on the environment and, in the case of Cazorla, he is doing well at Arsenal with a good manager. At another team he could also do well . . . but maybe not."
Benitez added: "When we came to England it was difficult. We brought Xavi Alonso here and Luis Garcia and, little by little, you saw them settle down.
"The Premier League is a very competitive league but Spain has a very good level now and it is good for the game."
Cazorla and his Arsenal team-mates will believe they are making the short cross-town trip to Stamford Bridge at exactly the right time.
Benitez has overseen an improvement in the Blues' away from — but they have endured a nightmare run of results at the Bridge.
Their only home win so far under their interim boss was the 8-0 thumping of relegation-threatened Aston Villa on December 23.
Wednesday's 2-2 draw with struggling Southampton came after back-to-back home defeats to QPR in the league and Swansea in the Capital One Cup semi-final first leg.
Chelsea were 2-0 up at half-time and in control of a game that would have seen them move to within four points of second-placed Manchester City with a win.
But the Champions League holders crumbled as the Saints fought back.
The draw triggered the latest wave of hostility directed at Benitez as his players once again left the pitch to a chorus of boos with £50m flop Fernando Torres singled out for stick. And Benitez admitted the charged atmosphere is creating anxiety within the team.
But he insists today's visit of London rivals Arsenal is the ideal fixture for a team attempting to find some momentum in the second half of the season.
He said: "This game gives us extra motivation and we will be focused.
"It is different from a normal game because the atmosphere is different.
"But if you are in a top side you are pleased to play in these type of games.
"The main thing as a manager is how can you keep your players motivated every single game?
"Against Arsenal it is easy. I like to win trophies and play in top games."
Chelsea trail league leaders Manchester United by 13 points but can close that gap with a win, if only for a couple of hours as the Red Devils take on Spurs at 4pm.
Rafa added: "I have been very clear in my aspirations — to win every game and try to win every game.
"There are still some trophies to win and we will try to win all of them. In terms of the Premier League, I don't think we can do it.
"But we have a top side coming this weekend and if we get three points, maybe we can be closer.
"The Capital One Cup is there, the FA Cup is still open and the Europa League is still open.
"I just have to give the team the confidence that we can win against anyone. If you have that belief it becomes easier."
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